In the past two decades, the world of sports betting has undergone some significant changes. The biggest change that bookies have experienced is the move towards an online audience. Many online sportsbooks have been popping up in the past decade, and their audience has only increased in the past couple of years.
With the increase of the popularity of these websites, naturally comes the rising popularity of sports betting in general. Humans have been placing bets on athletes since the ancient era, and the practice remains prevalent in the 21st century.
In India, placing bets on sports, both online and offline, is legal and hugely popular. Sports fans tend to use both sports shops and cafés, as well as online sportsbooks in order to place bets on some of their favorite sports. Quite a few Indian punters like to use websites that extensively cover various sportsbooks. For those curious to know, you can check out this sportsbet.io review, done by a reputable source, which has covered numerous websites.
The question remains, however, what are India’s favorite betting sports. In this article, we answer that very question.
Cricket
The history of cricket can be dated back to the 1500s, making it the second oldest sport on this list. The game has its origins in England, where it developed as a children’s game, however, was very quickly embraced by adults. Cricket is integral to English culture and is even considered the United Kingdom’s national sport.
And yet, today, the sport enjoys much greater popularity in India, where it is, by far, the most popular, watched and betted on sport. On top of that, the Indian national cricket team is one of the most successful teams in the cricket world, according to the International Cricket Council.
Cricket arrived in India during the 1700s, when the British Empire first began its colonial expansion around the world. The sport was played in India by British travelers, explorers, traders, soldiers and immigrants. It was through these games that the natives were familiarized with the sport.
Since those days, India has gone to the top of the cricket world, becoming one of the most prominent countries in the cricket world, standing at the top alongside Australia and England.
Football
Though football’s popularity in India is dwarfed by cricket, the same can’t be said for the rest of the world. With over 3 billion followers around the globe, football is by far the most popular sport, exceeding cricket’s popularity by more than 1 billion fans.
The origins of the game are disputable, however, it is largely agreed that it began in England during the 1800s. Although similar games have been played in various countries (most notably China and Ancient Greece) all throughout history.
In India, football is among the most popular watched sports. In fact, next to cricket, there is no sport that exceeds the game’s popularity. The current top tier league in Indian football is the Indian Super League, which is comprised of eleven teams, and is considered one of the most popular leagues in Asia and the world.
The popularity of the game naturally lends itself to a popularity on the betting scene. Indian punters place bets on national and international football games, though the Indian Super League is the most popular betting event in the world of Indian football.
Horse Racing
Last, but certainly not least, is the oldest sport on this list. Horse racing has been around since the days of ancient Babylon, and the popularity of the practice has endured the test of time. Today, the most popular horse races take place in Great Britain and the United States, as well as the United Arab Emirates.
However, that doesn’t mean that these are the only countries where horse racing’s popularity endures. All over the world, you can find people who place bets on their favorite horses and jockeys. And the same is true for India.
Indian punters love to get their hands on the latest and most enticing betting offers that numerous bookies offer when it comes to horse racing events. It is for this reason that you will find many people on the streets of India that have a thorough knowledge of events like the Kentucky Derby, the Royal Ascot, etc.
Santosh Kumar is a Professional SEO and Blogger, With the help of this blog he is trying to share top 10 lists, facts, entertainment news from India and all around the world.